Instructions

ZOOM IN by clicking on the page. A slider will appear, allowing you to adjust your zoom level. Return to the original size by clicking on the page again.

MOVE the page around when zoomed in by dragging it.

ADJUST the zoom using the slider on the top right.

ZOOM OUT by clicking on the zoomed-in page.

SEARCH by entering text in the search field and click on "In This Issue" or "All Issues" to search the current issue or the archive of back issues
respectively.
.

PRINT by clicking on thumbnails to select pages, and then press the
print button.

SHARE this publication and page.

ROTATE PAGE allows you to turn pages 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.Click on the page to return to the original orientation. To zoom in on a rotated page, return the page to its original orientation, zoom in, and
then rotate it again.

CONTENTS displays a table of sections with thumbnails and descriptions.

ALL PAGES displays thumbnails of every page in the issue. Click on
a page to jump.

NEWS BULLETIN
6 Issue 561. May 2014
Gosford Rotarian named Senior of the Year
Alex’s Challenge raises $16,000
for The Rotary Foundation
Laurie Maher, of the Rotary Club of
Gosford City, NSW, has been named
the 2014 Senior of the Year.
A recipient of the Medal of the
Order of Australia, Laurie has worked
as the Executive Officer for Coast
Shelter for over 20 years. The not-
for-profit organisation is based on
the NSW Central Coast and provides
shelter for up to 160 children,
women and men every night.
Laurie was heavily involved in
social services throughout his career,
taking a lead role in a state-wide
review of the juvenile justice system.
He began his role with Coast
Shelter after leaving the public
service.
The organisation provides 1000
meals weekly, as well as operating
nine key programs, including
no-interest loans. In addition to
providing accommodation and
helping those at risk of losing their
accommodation, Coast Shelter also
provides food parcels and financial
aid for utility bills.
Laurie was modest about the
recognition, saying it was “a bit
embarrassing” and compared
receiving the award to being the
“only one left after knocking over
an old lady and pinching someone
else’s walking stick”! He paid tribute
to the hard work of those who work
alongside him, but said his true
hero is his wife, Helen.
“ The one who mostly deserves
the award is my wife, who has
carried the load of caring for our
six kids, our house and looking
after me,” he said. “I don’t attribute
this to my work, but more to the
nature of our family and the efforts
of my wife.”
All of Laurie’s six children have
followed in their father ’s footsteps
and now work in community service.
A vocal critic of the Government
response to the homelessness
crisis, Laurie says the shortage
of affordable housing remains a
huge problem. He believes more
funding needs to be made available
for affordable housing, as well as
making private investment a more
attractive prospect for investors.
He has also expressed concern
about the lack of awareness
among those filling senior
voluntary positions in not-for-profit
organisations.
“ The volunteerism associated
with the not-for-profit sector is to
a great extent the backbone of our
communities, but, unfortunately,
many people put their hand up to
serve on boards of management
without a great knowledge of their
responsibilities under corporations’
law,” he said.
Laurie Maher, of the Rotary Club of
Gosford City, NSW, has been a tireless
advocate for those in need and was named
2014 Senior of the Year.
A conversation between Past District
Governor Alex McHarg and Chris
Climaco at last year’s District 9670
Conference inspired Alex and Chris
to run the Rotary Club of Warner ’s
Bay, NSW, Loop the Lake this year.
Alex, who had never participated
in any type of endurance event, let
alone one involving cycling and
running, hadn’t jogged regularly
since the early 1990s. He began
training in December, three months
before the ride.
After becoming aware of the “Six
Challenges” that were being set
for the 2014 District Conference,
he decided to fundraise for The
Rotary Foundation. Alex thought
his club might be eligible to apply
for one of the prizes under the
“Outstanding Effort of a Physical
Nature by a Member to Fundraise
for Charity”. Clubs, Rotarians and
the public joined forces to raise
over $6000, and a week before
the ride, this figure was raised
to $16,445 thanks to a generous
donation from the Rotary Club of
Dubbo South, NSW.
There were more than 2100
starters in the event, competing in
three separate distance categories
–
the full 85km loop, the 50km loop
from Morisset and the 16km loop
from Belmont South.
Alex, who competed in the full
85km loop with his son-in-law,
Colin Cook, believes his family
talked Colin into riding with him to
keep an eye on him and ensure he
didn’t do anything to endanger his
health.
Chris and his father, Assistant
Governor Frank Climaco, entered
the ride on the 16km loop.